Who We Are
Through a collaborative partnership led by the Open Space Council, the Community Stewardship Alliance (CSA) is an exciting new conservation program intended to provide focused, trained volunteer leadership to restore and maintain the natural areas within Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park. Creve Coeur's Site Ambassadors Jeanne and Michael, are the local conservation leaders for this park. Their stewardship team members support their efforts by helping plan and organize volunteer days and engaging other community members to invest in their neighborhood park. Join us for an event, meet our site ambassadors, and learn more about how you can become part of the team!
Creve Coeur Park is a 2,114-acre park with one of the largest natural lakes in Missouri (Creve Coeur Lake, 320 acres). Subsections of the park include Little Creve Coeur, Mallard Lake, and Fee Fee Greenway. There are many opportunities for stewardship projects at the park! These include tree planting, removal of invasives, maintenance of three demonstration pollinator gardens and more.
Our CSA partners include Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, Great Rivers Greenway District, Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Master Naturalists Great Rivers Chapter, Missouri Stream Team, Open Space STL, St. Louis Audubon Society, St. Louis County Parks, and St. Louis County Parks Foundation.
What We Do
For The Environment
CSA projects at Creve Coeur include:
- Native pollinator gardens - In partnership with St. Louis Audubon Society, CSA Site Ambassadors maintain three pollinator gardens near Mallard Lake that provide meaningful habitat for birds and pollinators alike. Throughout the year, you'll find volunteers out there performing regular maintenance on each of the lovely gardens. If you're interested in helping foster pollinator habitat in our region or learning more about how to properly care for gardens, join a team to learn more!
- Tree planting - With its tremendous amount of parkland, a significant portion of Creve Coeur Park is currently maintained as a manicured lawn. Converting some of these mowed spaces into woodlands contributes more ecologically, environmentally, and even financially than turf grass. In 2021, the CSA program and its volunteers planted 100 trees within the park - and there's more fun to come!
- Invasive species management - Whether it be bush honeysuckle, Callary pear, or non-native thistles, battling invasive species is a constant, ongoing challenge in our parks and public spaces. If you're interested in protecting our natural communities and the animals that rely on them, consider joining us for one of our invasive species removal projects at the park.
- Litter pickups - During 2022's Confluence Trash Bash, CSA Site Ambassadors and volunteers removed almost 10 cubic yards and several tires from Mallard and Creve Coeur Lakes - that's more than two city dumpsters worth of litter!
For The Community
CSA projects at Creve Coeur benefit:
- Community members and volunteers by helping to create lasting relationships that empower local friends and neighbors while bringing people together who value this community treasure and want to see it sustained and thrive.
- Park & trail users by improving the landscapes and beautifying the park for everyone who enjoys these outdoor spaces for recreation.
Program Opportunities
